Cabando posed as woman during escape to Bohol

CEBU, Philippines - The lone escapee of last week’s botched armored van robbery, Dionisio “Jun-jun” Cabando, posed as a long-haired blonde woman when he rented a pumpboat in Barangay Tangke Talisay City, Cebu, to Panglao, Bohol.

This information came after Marino Ochea, 43; his nephew, Luisito Ochea, 29; and Antonio Balingit, 50, surrendered to authorities last Sunday.

Luisito, who captained the pumpboat to Panglao, said Cabando wore a long blonde wig and a blue dress.

“Nagsul-ot siya og blue nga duster ug wig nga color blonde…nag binabaye gyud siya,” he said. 

He also said that Cabando was assisted by two unidentified armed men into the pumboat as he was pale, limping and weak.

“Gi-alsa pa siya sa iyang mga kauban aron makasakay sa pumpboat kay di man siya hapit makatikang,” Luisito said.

Cabando was believed to have been shot during the botched robbery.

Marino said that they just docked at coast of Tangke from a fishing trip around 3 a.m. last Wednesday when a woman who was later identified as Merlyn Laguitao, Cabando’s live-in partner, approached them.

“Mao pay pag-abot namo gikan panagat unya naa dayon miduol na babaye ug miingon nga magpahatod sa Panglao,” he said.

Marino, who said they had no catch for the night, priced the trip at P20,000 but the woman negotiated for P15,000 adding that the payment will only be given once they arrive in Panglao.

Marino said he did not join the trip to Panglao and decided to let his nephew, Luisito captain the pumpboat.

During the trip, Luisito said he eventually recognized Cabando, who was sitting behind him with the two men, as the wanted fugitive and got worried.

When they finally arrived at Panglao at around 7 a.m. Wednesday, Cabando was once again assisted by his companions off the pumpboat.

It was there when Cabando reportedly removed the blonde wig, leaving no question as to who he was.

Laguitao, who earlier promised P15,000 for their trip, only gave them P5,000 but Luisito and Balingit reportedly did not complain anymore as the group was armed.

“Wa nalang gyud mi mireklamo kay kahibaw man mi nga armado sila…nahadlok nalang pud mi,” Luisito said. 

Since Wednesday, Marino has reportedly feared for his life and his family especially when he received information that the police were looking for him and decided to surrender to the police on Sunday.

The Ocheas and Balingit are now under protective custody while police are studying if charges should be filed against them.

Following this recent development, Cebu City Police Office director Melvin Ramon Buenafe urged Bohol residents to be vigilant following reports that Cabando is in their island. 

The police also presented yesterday an improvised bulletproof vest made from two metal plates found in the mall where Cabando’s gang tried to stage the robbery.

Cabando’s three colleagues killed two guard escorts, wounded a teller and two policemen on their way out of the mall during the robbery.    - (THE FREEMAN)